Daily Trip Update, 26 November 2019
Written by November 26 2019
A beautiful day out on the ocean a little swelly, which made for an ideal environment for some big 5 spotting! We started our journey by visiting our sister company, Marine Dynamics, to have a look at some of the wonderful bronze whaler sharks who had joined the cage divers for the day. After observing the school for a little while our guests got themselves settled for the journey away from the bay and into the open water.While out on the water, we were able to do our part for the marine environment by removing some discarded plastic from the ocean. A little effort still goes a long way!
After spending some time scouring our surroundings for the telltale signs of whale activity, we set a course for our resident cape fur seals who were enjoying the sunshine over at geyser rock.
Their noisy and curious antics were very symbolic of the beginning of pupping season, where the first baby cape fur seals take to the water to begin learning their way around the ebb and flow of the waters around their home.
We then took a short trip to Dyer Island to have a look for some African penguins, as well as the other marine birdlife that call it their home and were pleasantly surprised when a pair showed their faces in the open water surrounding the island as well! We then enjoyed a breezy trip back to the harbour courtesy of our dedicated skipper and his crew.
What species did we see today?
Bronze Whaler Shark Bronze Whaler Shark
The Bronze whaler (also known as Copper sharks) here in Kleinbaai are very curious and interactive. These sharks eat mostly fish, with sardines being one of their favourites.
Cape fur seal Cape fur seal
With a local population of 60,000, it's no wonder our guests capture so many photographs of these wonderfully playful marine mammals.
African Penguin African Penguin
As one of only 17 penguin species left in the world (and the only one on the african continent), the african penguin often breed in offshore colonies, such as Dyer Island.
White-breasted Cormorant White-breasted Cormorant
White-breasted Cormorant is the largest African cormorant and they have an iconic white chest, it is a favourite for many of our repeat visitors, and professional wildlife photographers.
Cape Cormorant Cape Cormorant
One of the most famous species of Cormorant in the Western Cape, the Cape Cormorant is well known for it's beautiful turquoise eye and impressive size.